First Aid for Corrections Officers Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of burns?

1. Thermal

2. Chemical

3. Radiation

4. Electrical

The correct answer is: Radiation

Radiation is typically recognized in the context of burns, but it is not commonly categorized alongside the other types. The common causes of burns generally include thermal burns, which result from contact with hot surfaces or flames; chemical burns, caused by exposure to corrosive substances; and electrical burns, which occur due to electrical currents passing through the body. Each of these types of burns involves an immediate and direct mechanism that typically arises in various settings, such as household accidents, industrial exposures, and contact incidents. While radiation can cause burns—like those experienced in radiation therapy for cancer or from sun exposure—its occurrence in typical scenarios and its mechanism of action differ from the more prevalent causes listed. Hence, it does not fit as a common or immediate cause of burns when compared to thermal, chemical, and electrical incidents that are more frequently encountered in both everyday life and within correctional environments.